au: whitsundays

Sailing on a yacht in the Whitsundays sounds like an amazing trip right? WRONG! In all fairness, it would be if it wasn’t extreme sailing due to an unexpected storm. It started off as a calm day as we were dangling our feet off the edge of the boat as instructed while cruising back into the marina. The winds were strong and the sails were up but before we knew it, we were headed directly into a storm.

Really quickly the waters got rough and the waves started crashing onto the deck of the yacht. By the time we realized what was going on, the boat was on a 90 degree angle and I was chest deep into the sea while clinging onto the edge of the yacht for dear life. Fortunately, before a wave could fully sweep me overboard, the boat moved into a position where the 6 of us dangling in the water were able to climb onto a higher part of the yacht.

When I attempted to climb to safety, the yacht was still on a steep angle but luckily, there was another Canadian who came to my rescue. With super human strength (we’ve chalked it up to adrenaline), she pulled me up to where she was seated and I clung to her for dear life. Not only had she rescued me but she was also able to rescue a bottom of sunscreen with her monkey toes but the towels, crisps, and other assorted goods on the deck slide to their watery grave. In her words, she’s not a hero…she’s just doing her job!

We still had hours to go before hitting the marina and we managed to get dunked into the sea once again before the crew guided us to the cabin below. Once we were below, the thunder and lightning show took place over the boat as we continued to make our way back to the marina. An hour later, we were finally docked and every passenger was safe and accounted for. I have never been happier to see dry land before in my life.

Before I even set out for this adventure, the Whitsundays was the place I wanted to go. In my head it was going to be this place that was breathtaking. What I failed to notice in all the photos of this area were these little insects called March Flies. If hell had insects, these creatures would be it. They are big with a bite that hurts.

There’s no stopping these flies. I attract them at a higher rate than undesirable men – hard to believe but true! All day they buzzed all around me like secret service ensuring that I was fully covered. It didn’t matter if I was on the yacht or walking through the bush or splashing around the water – they were there stalking me. I don’t know why I’m so desirable to them. Is it my blood…my inability to kill them on first swat…my lack of eau de bushman…my freak out potential when they buzz around me head? Whatever it is, I know I’ll have to get the cure fast as I’ve heard we’ll meet once again on Fraser Island.